I basically failed at high school. I achieved a very low end of year score, but I only have myelf to blame, given the effort I put in. Some of it was probably due to stress, because I look back on those years and recognize that I have a lot of the same avoidance strategies now.

Since then, I basically went to a community college (97-00) and failed there too. For pretty much the same reason, in that I would put minimal or no effort into my work.

Then I entered the workforce, but my work history has been patchy.

10 years on and i'm 33, going on 34, and wanting to rectify things somehow.

I'm at a crossroads, and I don't want to wait until I am too old, and then look back in complete regret. I have enough of that as it is.

I can't go back in time or wind my clock back and become a younger person. But I feel like I want to reach my educational potential somehow, before it's too late.

This also relates to another thread I made where I lamented the complete waste of a year that was 2011. It's a similar theme in that I don't want to waste any more time.

I've been thinking of mature-age study for years now, and had I made the decision earlier, I would be no worse off financially, and I might even have a diploma/degree of some sort by now. So I already know I have wasted time in that respect.

What are your thoughts?

[Morghana]

If you want to do it, there's no serious financial burden, and you're unhappy with what you're doing now, I don't see why you shouldn't. You kind of answer your own question in this one: "I want to reach my educational potential." It sounds like you've been thinking about it for a while, and that you're ready to give it a go. You shouldn't look at everything building up to now as "a waste of time", though. Maybe that's how you feel right now. But maybe you should try to see it as just another kind of education. It sounds like it has helped you come to terms with who you are and figure out what you want to do with your life. You've grown as a person as a result of it, meaning that it's not really failure, at least not in my opinion. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that this time around, things go well for you.

It is never too late to return to school. I am 34 and just completed my first year of university. There are a lot of mature students, who are in their 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s. They have made the experience much more enjoyable, since I can relate to them.

When I was in high school, my marks were terrible, even though I was labeled gifted. My poor academic performance reflected the emotional and social difficulties, I had at that time. About five years after I abruptly left, I enrolled in adult education. The environment was positive and fellow students were very supportive. My average actually reflected my true potential. Even my self esteem increased.

We older student possess maturity and life experience; it gives us discipline, that most of the younger ones lack.

School changed my life and overall outlook. It is never ever too late!

Didge, what course are you taking?

[Perna]

Go back to school and do it online. I did that ages 51-57 and it was wonderful; lots of fun, less pressure, etc. Being able to structure one's own time and not have to "go" somewhere helped me enormously.

http://www.umuc.edu/undergrad/ugprograms/index.cfm

Originally Posted by Illegal Toilet

Didge, what course are you taking?

Biology/Anthropology.

[Travelinglady]

If you do choose to go back to a community college, then make sure to check out the learning center. Colleges do have such services such as tutors. Some of my best college students were the ones who went back to school later in life! Best wishes!